BoxRec

Zuffa Boxing Reportedly Close To Agreeing Sky Sports Deal

Zuffa Boxing, led by UFC CEO Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan, is reportedly on the verge of securing a multi-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports.

According to reports, the deal is “on the precipice” of being finalized. This follows the news of Zuffa’s recent market moves in the UK. The promotion is the driving force behind the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium April 11 main event headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix. Fury officially ends his retirement, seeking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

In the co-main event, New Zuffa signee Conor Benn steps into the ring for the first time since his split from Matchroom. Benn will face former two-time champion Regis Prograis at a 150-lb catchweight in a deal reportedly worth $15million for one fight.

“Zuffa Boxing is on the precipice of a media rights deal with Sky Sports for the UK market,” John Ourand reported

Is this the big news that clickbaity sites are going to shake the world up

Alba wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 06:13 Is this the big news that clickbaity sites are going to shake the world up

probably is..

can't see what else it could be..

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 06:03 Zuffa Boxing Reportedly Close To Agreeing Sky Sports Deal

Zuffa Boxing, led by UFC CEO Dana White and WWE President Nick Khan, is reportedly on the verge of securing a multi-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports.

According to reports, the deal is “on the precipice” of being finalized. This follows the news of Zuffa’s recent market moves in the UK. The promotion is the driving force behind the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium April 11 main event headlined by Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix. Fury officially ends his retirement, seeking to bounce back from consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

In the co-main event, New Zuffa signee Conor Benn steps into the ring for the first time since his split from Matchroom. Benn will face former two-time champion Regis Prograis at a 150-lb catchweight in a deal reportedly worth $15million for one fight.

“Zuffa Boxing is on the precipice of a media rights deal with Sky Sports for the UK market,” John Ourand reported

Are their shows not shown on Paramount+ in the UK?

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 08:34
Are their shows not shown on Paramount+ in the UK?

That's US deal..

The shows have been on YouTube in the UK.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 08:49

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 08:34
Are their shows not shown on Paramount+ in the UK?

That's US deal..

The shows have been on YouTube in the UK.

Aaaahhh. Very good.

Oh my. I don’t think Eddie is going to remember February fondly.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 06:14

Alba wrote: ↑27 Feb 2026, 06:13 Is this the big news that clickbaity sites are going to shake the world up

probably is..

can't see what else it could be..

Surely it’s that John Wish has signed for Zuffa!

Anthony Joshua was secretly approached to leave Eddie Hearn by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing

Conor Benn wasn't the only Matchroom fighter Zuffa Boxing tried to snap up.

The Dana White-fronted promotional outfit also tried to poach Anthony Joshua, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

But while Benn signed a one-fight deal with Zuffa worth $15m last month, AJ was quick to shut down the approach.

During a recent appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn revealed that Joshua immediately sent him a screenshot of the message.

Hearn said: “He won’t mind me saying it, but AJ had an approach around the back a couple of weeks ago.

“Do you know how quickly he sent me the screenshot? Seconds.

“[He said], ‘Let me know what you want to reply.’

"We are a team. Until the wheels come off, we are a team.

"And I have got your back always."

Zuffa's decision to contact AJ is a puzzling one, considering the Watford powerhouse signed a career-long deal with Matchroom in 2021, making it logistically impossible for him to jump ship.

Hearn didn't have the same framework in place for Benn, whose contract with Matchroom had expired after he exacted his revenge over Chris Eubank Jr last November.

Rather than rushing to renew the deal, Hearn made the ill-advised call to allow Benn to mull over his options.

That is when Zuffa swooped in with a money-spinning offer.

Hearn was informed of Benn's decision via an email from the boxer's lawyer and was denied a phone call with his long-time client.

It marked the end of a 10-year partnership spanning the entirety of Benn's professional career.

Hearn felt 'betrayed' by Benn's abrupt exit and admits he was wrong to assume the 29-year-old would 'repay his loyalty' for working tirelessly to prove his innocence following his two failed drug tests in 2022.

A war between Matchroom and Zuffa has been raging ever since, with Hearn retaliating last week by signing UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to the Matchroom Talent Agency.

Aspinall remains under contract with the UFC; however, Hearn is now working with him in a commercial and advisory capacity.

The Conor Benn 15 mill has to be a lie….. no way commercially he can bring in enough business to justify 15 mill on an undercard of an already expensive to put on fight. It’s just not possible.

BTW anyone know what Opetaia got at the weekend?

I think the foray into boxing will be their undoing.

All their UFC fighters are going to wonder why they're paying them so little...

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:20 I think the foray into boxing will be their undoing.

All their UFC fighters are going to wonder why they're paying them so little...

I don't think the 'boxers' will get that much more than UFC fighters.

they already outlined purses for bouts, and championship fights, challengers etc.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:25

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:20 I think the foray into boxing will be their undoing.

All their UFC fighters are going to wonder why they're paying them so little...

I don't think the 'boxers' will get that much more than UFC fighters.

they already outlined purses for bouts, and championship fights, challengers etc.

In which case, Zuffa won't be able to retain top tier talent.

All that will happen is boxers who are not in contract will join for a payday and big signing on bonus.

My guess, is there will be a shit tonne of contractual lawsuits as fighters peel away.

Connor Benn must be getting well paid, but he isn't top tier, although of course, he has a marquee name, literally - which is as if not more important.

Glass Joe wrote: ↑12 Mar 2026, 14:11

Think he's jumping the gun. The events they're doing at the moment are just test runs and walkthroughs. They'll show their muscle soon enough.

They're going to give everyone problems imo, if the working relationship with The Excellent Turkey stays warm. I'm sure he sees them as the guys who can finally deliver the monopoly he's been looking for.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:16 The Conor Benn 15 mill has to be a lie….. no way commercially he can bring in enough business to justify 15 mill on an undercard of an already expensive to put on fight. It’s just not possible.

BTW anyone know what Opetaia got at the weekend?

It doesn't have to be commercially viable, Turki's bosses are worth $1.4 trillion.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:16 The Conor Benn 15 mill has to be a lie….. no way commercially he can bring in enough business to justify 15 mill on an undercard of an already expensive to put on fight. It’s just not possible.

BTW anyone know what Opetaia got at the weekend?

It was done to fück with Hearn

The initial offer was 15m over a few fights

Matchroom contract gave them an option called "matching rights" - they had the right to match any offer an outsider made to CB. If they matched the offer, he had to stay.

This is a common clause in sports and entertainment contracts. Gives the original party a chance not to have talent poached, while the talent gets to have their increased value recognised.

MR matched the offer, so CB would have to stay


Zuffa then sent a revised offer - 15m for just one fight.

MR wouldn't match that, as it's so commercially ludicrous, so Zuffa took him.

It's just expensive shothousery to gutpunch Hearn.

johnmanchester wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 04:37

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:16 The Conor Benn 15 mill has to be a lie….. no way commercially he can bring in enough business to justify 15 mill on an undercard of an already expensive to put on fight. It’s just not possible.

BTW anyone know what Opetaia got at the weekend?

It was done to fück with Hearn

The initial offer was 15m over a few fights

Matchroom contract gave them an option called "matching rights" - they had the right to match any offer an outsider made to CB. If they matched the offer, he had to stay.

This is a common clause in sports and entertainment contracts. Gives the original party a chance not to have talent poached, while the talent gets to have their increased value recognised.

MR matched the offer, so CB would have to stay


Zuffa then sent a revised offer - 15m for just one fight.

MR wouldn't match that, as it's so commercially ludicrous, so Zuffa took him.

It's just expensive shothousery to gutpunch Hearn.

Doesn’t see like good business….

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:47

johnmanchester wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 04:37

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑10 Mar 2026, 11:16 The Conor Benn 15 mill has to be a lie….. no way commercially he can bring in enough business to justify 15 mill on an undercard of an already expensive to put on fight. It’s just not possible.

BTW anyone know what Opetaia got at the weekend?

It was done to fück with Hearn

The initial offer was 15m over a few fights

Matchroom contract gave them an option called "matching rights" - they had the right to match any offer an outsider made to CB. If they matched the offer, he had to stay.

This is a common clause in sports and entertainment contracts. Gives the original party a chance not to have talent poached, while the talent gets to have their increased value recognised.

MR matched the offer, so CB would have to stay


Zuffa then sent a revised offer - 15m for just one fight.

MR wouldn't match that, as it's so commercially ludicrous, so Zuffa took him.

It's just expensive shothousery to gutpunch Hearn.

Doesn’t see like good business….

It isn't, but for the Saudis, it's like dropping a tenner down the back of the sofa.

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 07:25

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:47

johnmanchester wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 04:37

It was done to fück with Hearn

The initial offer was 15m over a few fights

Matchroom contract gave them an option called "matching rights" - they had the right to match any offer an outsider made to CB. If they matched the offer, he had to stay.

This is a common clause in sports and entertainment contracts. Gives the original party a chance not to have talent poached, while the talent gets to have their increased value recognised.

MR matched the offer, so CB would have to stay


Zuffa then sent a revised offer - 15m for just one fight.

MR wouldn't match that, as it's so commercially ludicrous, so Zuffa took him.

It's just expensive shothousery to gutpunch Hearn.

Doesn’t see like good business….

It isn't, but for the Saudis, it's like dropping a tenner down the back of the sofa.

Might be less money to chuck away on boxing with all the things going on out there

tony1234 wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 08:40

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 07:25

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 06:47
Doesn’t see like good business….

It isn't, but for the Saudis, it's like dropping a tenner down the back of the sofa.

Might be less money to chuck away on boxing with all the things going on out there

There will probably be more. Oil nations thrive in times of scarcity.

Frostieballs wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 10:44

tony1234 wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 08:40

keithmoonhangover wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 07:25

It isn't, but for the Saudis, it's like dropping a tenner down the back of the sofa.

Might be less money to chuck away on boxing with all the things going on out there

There will probably be more. Oil nations thrive in times of scarcity.

there's plenty of oil but not much point having it if there are bombs hitting the ships

tony1234 wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 11:11

Frostieballs wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 10:44

tony1234 wrote: ↑14 Mar 2026, 08:40

Might be less money to chuck away on boxing with all the things going on out there

There will probably be more. Oil nations thrive in times of scarcity.

there's plenty of oil but not much point having it if there are bombs hitting the ships

The Saudis have already sold it by the time that happens!

Deal done.

Multi year deal.

So who has deals with Sky Sports now?